NYKOPP BECOMES STORM’S TOP PICK IN THE ENTRY DRAFT
Tri-City goes with a scoring winger for first pick in the entry draft
Monday, May 16, 2011
- For Immediate Release
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm wasted no time in selecting a player who is known for scoring goals. LW Thomas Nykopp became the Storm’s first pick and second overall selection in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft on Monday, as the Storm drafted a total of 15 players – seven forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies.
Nykopp, who is a 6-foot-3 and 200-pound 18-year old, had 26 goals and 43 points in 36 games last season playing for the Ohio Blue Jackets U18 midget major team. He is a native of Helsinki, Finland, and played his youth hockey in Finland until coming to North America last season to play midget hockey.
“We are very excited to have selected Thomas. He’s big and can skate well, and should really help provide offense for us next season,” said Storm GM/Head Coach Drew Schoneck.
“Thomas was high on our radar, and we happened to be in the right spot to select him.”
After making Nykopp the first selection in the first round, the Storm didn’t select again until the third round, as their second round pick belonged to Cedar Rapids in a trade that sent Nick Lappin to the Storm in November.
Defenseman Dylan Maller became the Storm’s second selection in the third round. Maller, who is 6-foot and 162-pounds, played 24 games for the DC Capitols U18’s last season.
Tri-City selected four players in the fourth round, taking three forwards and one defenseman.
Each team stopped drafting players once they got to 23 protected players, and resumed drafting players upon every team reaching the 23-man mark. The draft concluded once every team reached 30 protected players.
Tri-City Storm – 2011 Entry Draft Selections:
1st Round – 2nd overall pick
LW Thomas Nykopp – 3/6/93, Helsinki, Finland, 6’3 / 200 lbs
2010-11 Team: Ohio Blue Jackets U18 (Midget Tier I) –
26 goals, 19 assists, 43 points in 36 games
Previous Storm Picks in 1st Round: 2010 – None; 2009 – RW Justin DeMartino; 2009 – D Taylor Aronson; 2008 – D Sean Escobedo; 2007 – C Mike Cichy
2nd Round – No pick for Tri-City (Traded to Cedar Rapids for C Nick Lappin)
Previous Storm Picks in 2nd Round: 2010 – C Brian Ward; 2009 – LW/C Blake Coleman; 2008 – C Eli Zuck; 2007 – D David Carle
3rd Round – 32nd overall pick
D Dylan Maller – 4/15/94, Parkland, FL, 6’1 / 162 lbs
2010-11 Team: DC Capitols U18 (Midget NAPHL) –
1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 24 games
Previous Storm Picks in 3rd Round: 2010 – LW Brad Schierhorn; 2010 – LW Dominic Panetta; 2009 – Carsen Chubak; 2008 – No Pick; 2007 – RW Colin Smith; 2007 – D Nick Jaskowiak
4th Round – 47th overall pick
LW Will Merchant – 1/12/94, Eagan, MN, 6’1 / 180 lbs
2010-11 Team: Eagan High School (Minn. HS) –
33 goals, 22 assists, 55 points in 31 games
4th Round – 54th overall pick
D Josh McArdle – 5/8/94, Roscoe, IL, 6’0 / 170 lbs
2010-11 Team: Team Illinois U18 (Midget Tier I) –
5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 33 games
4th Round – 59th overall pick
C Tim Bonner – 8/19/92, Osseo, MN, 5’9 / 160 lbs
2010-11 Team: Osseo High School (Minn. HS) –
35 goals, 31 assists, 66 points in 29 games
4th Round – 60th overall pick
LW Corey Petrash – 12/29/94, Winnipeg, Man., 5’8 / 175 lbs
2010-11 Team: Winnipeg Thrashers (Midget MMHL) –
25 goals, 20 assists, 45 points in 28 games
Previous Storm Picks in 4th Round: 2010 – D Ryan Sproul; 2010 – D Bill Eiserman; 2009 – No Pick; 2008 – D Rob Vannelli; 2008 – D Rick Pinkston; 2007 – RW Brett Beebe
5th Round – No pick for Tri-City (Storm’s Indiana pick was promoted to late 4th rd)
Previous Storm Picks in 5th Round: 2010 – RW Shane Walsh; 2009 – D Ben Montgomery; 2008 – G Nick Maricic; 2007 – G Ian O’Brien
6th Round – 77th overall pick
D Joona Kunnas – 1/8/93, Vantaa, Finland, 6’2 / 195 lbs
2010-11 Team: LA Jr. Kings (Midget Tier I) –
2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 21 games
Previous Storm Picks in 6th Round: 2010 – No Pick; 2009 – RW Mitch Hughes; 2008 – No Pick; 2007 – D Tom Kleidon
7th Round – 92nd overall pick
D Eli May – 9/16/93, Eagan, MN, 6’2 / 195 lbs
2010-11 Team: Eagan High School (Midget Tier I) –
11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points in 31 games
Previous Storm Picks in 7th Round: 2010 – No Pick; 2009 – D Chris Joyaux; 2008 – No Pick; 2007 – No Pick
Storm completed phase I (23 protected players) and passed through to the 13th round
13th Round – 182nd overall pick
C Chase Berger – 11/14/94, St. Louis, MO, 5’9 / 160 lbs
2010-11 Team: St. Louis Amateur Blues (Midget Tier I) –
10 goals, 19 assists, 29 points in 38 games
14th Round – 197th overall pick
C Patrick Steinhauser – 5/13/93, Plymouth, MN, 5’8 / 165 lbs
2010-11 Team: Benilde-St. Margaret's (Minn. HS) –
24 goals, 30 assists, 54 points in 27 games
15th Round – 212th overall pick
D Cutler Martin – 7/20/94, East Lansing, MI, 5’11 / 185 lbs
2010-11 Team: Victory Honda U18 (Midget Tier I) –
4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 27 games
16th Round – 227th overall pick
LW Nick Anderson – 1/12/94, Sacramento, CA, 6’3 / 180 lbs
2010-11 Team: Fresno Monsters (NAHL) –
1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 10 games
17th Round – 242nd overall pick
G Adam Miller – 3/13/92, Long Grove, IL, 6’1 / 165 lbs
2010-11 Team: Chicago Steel (USHL) –
Record: 0-1-1, 2.89 GAA, .912 SV%, in 2 games
18th Round – 257th overall pick
G Talon Miller – 1/13/95, Bird Creek, AK, 5’8 / 170 lbs
2010-11 Team: Las Vegas Storm U16 (Midget NAPHL) –
Record: 11-3-1, 2.07 GAA, .925 SV%, in 15 games
19th Round – 272nd overall pick
D Nick Neville – 6/3/93, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 5’11 / 160 lbs
2010-11 Team: Little Caesars U18 (Midget Tier I) –
2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points in 39 games
Season tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Call the Storm hockey office today at 308.338.8011 for more information or visit www.stormhockey.com.